KLDR - Local News

OSP Assisted in Locating Two Missing Individuals Saturday

Oregon State Police were able to locate two missing persons over the weekend.

On Saturday around 12:24 p.m., troopers responded to a suspicious person call on Interstate 5 near milepost 59 northbound. The individual was contacted, and identified as Roger Lewis, 72, of Sherwood.

Troopers learned Lewis had been entered as a missing person out of Washington County, so they remained on the scene with him until his family arrived. A white Dodge Dakota was towed from the scene.

Later that same day at 1:43 p.m., troopers were asked to assist the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with locating a missing four-year-old. She had gone missing from her home in Selma. Through the efforts of both law enforcement agencies, the child was found following a two hour search.

Posted on 3/23/26 10:28AM by Alex Bauer

BCC Meeting for City Collaboration, Workshop to Cover Dimmick Property

The Board of County Commissioners will meet for a general discussion regarding the collaboration of the city and county Tuesday morning.

The City and County Monthly Update meeting will take place in the BCC Conference Room at 11 a.m., followed later by the boards County Administration Workshop.

Scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m., Legal Counsel will begin the meeting by presenting the board with two purchase and sale agreements for Dimmick properties. Also on the agenda are orders for the transfer of property to Cave Junction, and news media attendance.

Other Legal Counsel business includes Evergreen Federal Bank v. Josephine County and 2 Guys, 1 Truck, a 2025 Budget Officer Contract, and the annual Records Disposition Process.

Other business will be presented by departments, including Forestry's Extension of Suspension regarding the acceptance of applications for Mineral Exploration and Mining Leases, and Community Justice's Opioid Settlement Funding Report.

Board business includes an invoice from Dunn Carney LLP and Advisory Committee Applications, after which the meeting will adjourn pending other topics.

Before Tuesday's meetings, Commissioners Ron Smith, Colene Martin, and Gary Richardson will appear on KAJO's Tuesday Talk Show, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Posted on 3/23/26 10:00AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Suspect in Possession of Meth and Taser on Warrant

An officer with Grants Pass Police apprehended a convicted felon in possession of a taser Saturday.

While driving up 7th Street, the officer observed the suspect, Bobby Swearingen, around 10:31 p.m. He was seen riding a bluish purple mountain bike near the North Safeway at 115 SE 7th Street. After searching the area, the same bike was located in front of River City Grill.

Swearingen, who was known to have an active and serviceable warrant from the Oregon State Parole Board, attempted to flee out the back door of the building until he was eventually cornered. The officer held him at taser point and took him into custody without further incident.

During a consent search of Swearingen's person, the officer found a white powdery substance that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Swearingen was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

He was also found to be in possession of a taser. Being a convicted felon, Swearingen is prohibited from possessing such an item. He was lodged for his Parole Violation warrant, Possession of Meth, and Possession of a Restricted Weapon.

Posted on 3/23/26 6:41AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Apprehended Suspect in Restraining Order Violation Report

Grants Pass Police officers responded to a restraining order violation Saturday night.

A call to 911 reported Alan Curtis, the respondent of a restraining order between he and the caller, had attempted to make contact via phone. The caller did not pick up the phone when he called around 9:12 p.m. and 9:17 p.m., and alerted dispatch to the violation at 11:30 p.m.

The restraining order between the two was confirmed, and officers were able to locate and arrest Curtis. According to the police report, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, Curtis attempted to contact the victim four times.

Officers transported and lodged Curtis in the Josephine County Jail on four counts of Contempt of Court.

Posted on 3/23/26 4:40AM by Alex Bauer

Intoxicated Woman Lying in Elmer's Lobby Arrested after Resisting GP Police

The manager of Elmer's Restaurant reported a highly intoxicated woman on the premises, leading to an arrest by Grants Pass Police.

Saturday night around 7:58, dispatch was notified that a woman was lying on the ground in the lounge area of the 175 NE Agness Avenue restaurant. She was reportedly highly intoxicated and refusing offers from the staff for a ride home.

The manager said she wanted to ride a motorized scooter, but she reportedly couldn't stand upright and kept falling while attempting to get on the scooter.

Officers arrived and contacted the woman, Angelina James, saying she would be put under arrest for the sobering center. She again tried to leave the location saying she wouldn't go with law enforcement, so officers attempted to take her into custody.

James actively pushed against officers and attempted to kick them while she was being put in the patrol vehicle. Once secured, she was transported to the Adult Jail Facility for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. She was further trespassed from the Elmer's per the manager's request.

Posted on 3/23/26 4:40AM by Alex Bauer

Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash Claims Life of GP Resident, OSP, ODOT Responded

Oregon State Police responded to a fatal two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near milepost 236 in Klamath County March 17th at 7:49 p.m. The preliminary investigation indicated a red Dodge Ram pulling a trailer, operated by Sue Anne Evans, 76, of Grants Pass, was traveling northbound on Highway 97 near Chiloquin when it crossed into the southbound lane for an unknown reason. The Dodge Ram collided head-on with a southbound gray Ford F550 towing a trailer and forklift, operated by Chad Everett Hayes, 44, of Walla Walla, Washington. Evans was pronounced deceased at the scene, and Hayes had reported minor injuries. He was subsequently transported to an area hospital. The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 3/20/26 12:01PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Armed Suspect that Threatened Roommate

A call to 911 reported a man threatening his roommate with a gun Thursday, leading to his arrest by Grants Pass Police.

The caller reported at 6 p.m. that her roommate, Mathew Scriber, pulled a gun on and threatened to kill her. After displaying the weapon, he proceeded to leave the residence and continued yelling threats outside.

There were reportedly two children and four adults in the house, and upon arrival, officers were able to detain and take Scribner into custody without incident. Witnesses told law enforcement they had observed Scribner raise the firearm at the residence while continuing his verbal threats.

Officers found the Glock 22 handgun in Scribner's possession had an extended magazine but no ammunition loaded. He was transported to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged for Menacing and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The firearm was logged into evidence.

Posted on 3/20/26 11:39AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Armed Goose Egg Vandal

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man after he egged his neighbor's mobile home, then pointed a gun at the neighbor's son.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at 6:15 Thursday evening. The caller said their neighbor, Joseph Evans, propped a ladder against their mobile home in the 300 block of Bandy Way, and was breaking goose eggs.

The caller's son was walking over to the home when he saw Evans, and they got into a verbal argument. It was then reported Evans went back to his home and returned with a hand gun, pointing it at the son and trying to hit him with it.

Evans proceeded to walk around the area before going back inside. Upon arrival, deputies met with the caller, who confirmed with a photo that Evans had a gun. When attempting to contact him, law enforcement heard banging sounds and movement inside.

Evans was soon contacted and charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Third Degree Criminal Mischief, and Pointing a Firearm at Another. Deputies transported and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail

Posted on 3/20/26 10:59AM by Alex Bauer

Man Called in For Alleged Unlawful Motor Vehicle Entry, Arrested on Warrants

A man attempting to enter a vehicle was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers for two warrants.

At 6:54 a.m. Thursday, a call to 911 reported suspicious activity that occurred 10 minutes prior. The caller said it looked like someone was breaking into a red or orange Hummer and taking its bike rack on a property in the 800 block of SE 8th Street.

The suspect was reportedly wearing a headlamp and carrying a tote with bags and cans. The Hummer's passenger side door was open and it looked like the suspect was trying to reach the back of the vehicle.

Officers arrived, identified the suspect as William Jensen, and confirmed he had lawful access to the vehicle. He was, however, wanted on two warrants out of the Police Department.

Jensen was arrested for his warrants charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail for his warrants. He was lodged, but later had to be released due to a lack of resources.

Posted on 3/20/26 10:37AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Officers Arrested Man Wanted for Two Warrants at Resting Site 7

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on two warrants at Resting Site 7.

On Thursday around 11:25 a.m., officers spotted Ely B. Smith walking past the police department wearing tan pants and a black T-Shirt. He was making his way towards the 712 NE 7th Street site.

Law enforcement tracked him down to the site and positively identified him. Smith was wanted on two police department warrants, one for First Degree Criminal Trespass, and the other for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct.

Smith's warrants were cleared, and he was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for his warrants.

Posted on 3/20/26 10:22AM by Alex Bauer

Oregon Nurses Association Leader Files Wage Theft Lawsuit

On March 18th, an Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) member leader filed a class action lawsuit against Asante for wage theft and violating Oregon law. According to a release, Asante is accused of multiple illegal accounting practices including manipulating workers’ timecards, making unauthorized wage deductions, time rounding, refusing to pay workers’ earned differentials, refusing to pay missed meals and breaks, and failure to pay workers’ wages on time. Nurses are suing to stop Asante’s alleged illegal accounting practices, recover lost wages owed to healthcare workers, and ensure a fair and accurate accounting of all workers’ hours and pay. Class counsel estimates 6,000 hourly workers have been victims of Asante’s wage theft since 2020, including nearly 5,000 current employees. Plaintiffs estimate Asante owes workers $500,000 in unpaid wages. Asante is facing an additional $2 million in statutory penalties and damages plus interest and court costs. The ONA represents more than 1450 registered nurses and technical workers at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford.

Posted on 3/20/26 10:13AM by Alex Bauer

Ulta Beauty Thief Located at Pinnacle 365, Arrested by GP Police

A woman was arrested by Grants Pass Police after she stole merchandise from Ulta Beauty Thursday afternoon.

Officers learned the suspect ran out of the 925 NE D Street store with over $430 worth of products around 4:09 p.m. She left the scene on a black bike, and one 911 caller said they were following the suspect.

It was reported the suspect arrived at the nearby Pinnacle 365 and went inside, leaving the bike outside the front door. Officers were able to locate the suspect, identified as Shayla Earnest, and found her in possession of the stolen items.

She was arrested by law enforcement and taken to the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Theft. Earnest's bike was entered into safekeeping, and she was trespassed from Ulta Beauty.

Posted on 3/20/26 10:12AM by Alex Bauer